Beehive



No. 6|84,675. vPatented lan. 3|, i899. M. H. HONNOLL 8f. J. M. DROKE.

BEEHIVE.

(Application led Apr. 29 1898.) (No Model.) v

` 06 o MII ill Illlilu UNITED STATES MOSES HAMELTON IIONNOLL AND JOHN MATTERSON DROKE, OF KOSSUTH, MISSISSIPPI.

BEEHIVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,67 5, dated January 31, 1,899.

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that we,Mosns HAMELTON HON- NOLL and JOHN MATTERsoN DROKE, citizens of the United States, residing at Kossuth, in the county of Alcorn and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beehives; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to beehives, the ob ject of the same being to simplify and otherwise improve the construction, and the novel features thereofwill be specifically set forth in the following description.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents afront elevation of a hive constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical central transverse section through the hive. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view with the cover thrown open and partly broken away and with the side doors partly open, and Fig. Gis a detail perspective view of one of the honey-frames.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

Our improved hive consists of a casing made up of parallel sides 1 1, a front 2, and back 3, the same being suitably secured together, as clearly shown. The sides 1 1 terminate at their upper ends a short distance below the upper ends of the front and back, forming ledges 4 4. The back 3 terminates at its lower end ata point intermediate of the ends of the sides 1 1, and leading from the lower end of the back is an inclined bottom 5, which projects slightly beyond the front, a space or opening 6 being left between the bottom 5 and the lower edge of said front. Extending across the front a short distance above the space or opening 6 is a metallic strip '7, which serves as a guide or support for a sliding gate 8, the latter being preferably constructed of perforated sheet metal, wire-netting, or other like material which will permit the passage of air therethrough. The said gate is formed with a flange 9 along its upper edge, constituting a handle by means of which it maybe Application filed-April 29,1898. Serial No. 679,222. (No model.)

raised or lowered, and the same is held in its raised or lowered position by the frictional contact with the front and the strip 7 ,between which it slides. The function of the gate S is to enable the entrance-opening 6 of the hive to be closed, preventing the ingress of moths andthe like and the egress of the bees when it is desired to feed them within the hive or to transport them from one place to another.

The space on the interior of the casing inclosed by the'sides 1 1 and located beneath the ledges 4 constitutes what we term the brooding-compartment, and the space above said ledges constitutes whatwe term the honeycompartment. In the brooding-compartment are secured two cross-bars 10 11, located adjacent to one another, but lying at right angles to one another, the same being secured, respectively, at their ends to the sides 1 1 and to the front 2 and back 3. These crossbars constitute supports for the brood-comb. Secured to the front 2 and back 3 on the inside of the casing and in line with the ledges 4 are parallel cleats 12 12, which are connected by parallel slats 13 13, forming fixed brood-comb bars, each provided with a central perforation or opening 14. Also secured to vthe front 2 and back 3 at points adjacent to the upper ends thereof and along the inner surfaces thereof are supplemental cleats 15 15, which are provided with notches 16 at regular intervals along their upper edges for a purpose which will presently appear. AThe cleats 12 and 15 define the lower and upper ends, respectively, of the honeycompartment. Fitting within this compartment are removable comb-frames 17 17, which are provided with longitudinallylextending pins or pivots 18, adapted to lit within the notches 16 and to be supported and positioned by the cleats 15. The lower bars of said frames are further provided with downwardly-extending pins or projections 19, located centrally thereof and adapted to fit within the perforations 14 in the slats 13 for the purpose of preventing lateral movement of the frames when the latter are in place. The honey-compartment is closed at its sides by the doors 20 20, hinged to the front 2 and adapted to be secured to the back 3 by means of hooks 21 on said Aback and staples 22 on said doors. When in place, said doors rest upon the ledges 4 and the outer surfaces thereof lie fiush with the outer surfaces of the sides l l. The said compartment and the hive itself are further closed by the top or lid 23, which is hinged to the front and adapted to close down upon the back and be secured in place by suitable hooks and staples or other fastening devices. Upon the ends of the top 23 are secured, transversely of the grain of the wood of which the top is made, cleats 24, which project beyond the sides of the case and are designed for the purpose of preventing the warping of the top and as handles or engaging portions by means of which the hive may be grasped for the purpose of lifting itor transporting it from place to place. Extending through the top 23 is a Ventilating-opening 25, which is covered by a strip of wire-netting 26, secured to the under side of said top, the said strip of netting permitting the free passage of air through the opening, but preventing the egress of the bees therethrough. Upon the upper side of the top 23 is a slide 27, designed for the purpose of entirely closing the opening 25.

The operation of our device will be readily understood from the foregoing description and does not need to be specifically set forth.

Having now described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a beehive, parallel brood-comb bars each provided with a Vertical perforation centrally of its length, in combination with the pivotally-supported surplus honeycombframes overlying said bars and provided each with a centrally-located pendent pin engag ing the perforation in the underlying combbar for preventing lateral swaying of the comb-frames, substantially as described.

2. A beehive comprising longitudinallyextending centrally-perforated brood-comb bars, cross-bars 10, 1l for engaging and pre- Venting the swaying of the brood-comb, the pivotally-supported comb-frames overlying the broodco1nb bars in parallel relation thereto and each provided with a centrally-located pendent pin engaging the perforation in the underlying brood-comb bar, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES I-IAMELTON IIONNOLL.

JOI-IN MATTERSON DROKE. Witnesses:

J. M. BOONE,

J. A. DILWORTH. 

